Did You Know?
Nearly one million children are injured each year in bicycle related accidents.
Reducing Auto Insurance Rates There are dozens of things you can do to reduce auto insurance costs.
Safe driving reduces insurance rates more than any other factors
Most auto insurance companies offer lower rates to good drivers. Drivers with clean records can save 60% more than drivers who have accidents or tickets on record with the DMV.
Money Saving Auto Insurance Discounts
Auto insurance companies will offer special discounts to you if your risk of accidents is less than the majority of the public as a way to reward their customers for their loyalty and continued business.
These credits are described in general terms so check with an independent agent or Travelers representative to find out the specific details of credits your auto insurer offers. Your agent or Travelers representative will also be able to tell you which credits are available in your state, too, because these credits aren't available everywhere.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount: Anti-lock brakes come standard on most new cars and decrease the possibility of losing control of your vehicle, which reduces your risk of accident, and may qualify for a discount on your insurance premium.
- Anti-theft or Alarm Devices Discount: Alarms and anti-theft devices often qualify you for insurance discounts when you have:
- Auto alarms and active disabling devices (such as LoJack® or OnStar®)
- Passive disabling systems which are armed when the key is removed from the ignition. This is a feature of many luxury cars and more new vehicles every year.
- Keyless entry systems (remote controlled keyless door lock)
- Steering wheel locks (like The Club®)
- Car Pool Discount: If you commute to work as part of a car pool with two or more people, you could earn this discount because your car is used less often during commute hours when chances of auto accidents are higher.
- Defensive Driver Discount: Drivers who have completed state-approved defensive driver or accident prevention courses may qualify for a discount on their auto insurance rates. Check with your insurance agent to see if you qualify for one of these programs.
- Driver Training Discount: A driver under 21 that has taken a driver training course may qualify for this discount.
- Forgiveness Discount: Usually reserved for drivers who have kept their auto insurance policy with the same insurance company for years. Having a minor fender bender may not be counted against them, nor will it raise their insurance premiums.
- Good Student Discount: Students younger than 25 who qualify as full-time students with 3.0 grade point average usually get this discount. Good students are more often good drivers than poor students and qualify for this insurance discount as a reward.
- Loss Free Discount: Insurance companies will give you discounts if you have no claims during the first several years of maintaining an auto policy with the same company.
- Low Mileage Discount: Fewer miles of travel may qualify you for a discount on your auto insurance policy because less distance traveled means lower risk of auto accidents.
- Mature Driver Discount: Auto Insurance discounts for drivers over the age of 55.
- Multi-car Discount: Multiple cars with one auto insurance company makes you eligible for savings on all your family cars.
- Multi-Policy Discount: Multiple policies with your insurance company (both an auto policy and homeowners policy). More business for your insurance company makes you a more valuable customer to them.
- Passive Restraint Discount: Most insurance companies will give you credit if your car has air bags, automatic seat belts, or other safety features that you don't have to turn on or activate manually because they automatically reduce risk of injury.
- Renewal Discount: Once you've had an auto policy for a few of years, you'll begin to get a discount each time you renew.
- Student Away Discount: You could get credit if a driver in your household is a student living away at college. A student that doesn't have a car has lowered risk because their driving time is reduced.
Higher Auto Insurance Deductible Amounts
Deductible out-of-pocket costs may be anywhere from $50 - $1000. Choosing higher deductibles means paying less on your premiums because you pay deductibles out of your own pocket.
Safer Cars Discount
High-performance sports cars are expensive to repair and more likely to be stolen, and consequently, cost more to insure. Research crash-test reports, repair frequency, and auto manufacturer recalls of cars you consider buying. Consumer Reports and Consumers Union offer widely trusted ratings of most cars and their insurance costs.
Eliminate unnecessary coverages
If you have an older car with lower value, "collision" and "comprehensive" coverage may not be necessary because repairs for body damage on older cars is often more than the value of the car. Unless you have specialty "Classic" or "Historic" coverage for your vehicle, the insurance company "totals" the car, rather than repairing it.
Sponsored programs discount
Many large corporations, credit unions or associations offer auto insurance to employees or members. Those special program rates are passed on to members of large groups. Credit union and association members very often pay premiums through regular deductions directly from paychecks or automatic withdrawals from bank accounts. Ask your employer, credit union or association if they offer discounts with this type of auto insurance program.
Auto Insurance Fraud
Auto Insurance fraud costs you about ten cents on the dollar of YOUR insurance costs. Report insurance fraud immediately to your insurance agent, auto insurance company or local police when you suspect it is happening to you or those you know. Insurance fraud affects everyone, and it's not only insurance companies that pay because those costs are passed on to the consumer.
CONTACT AN AUTO INSURANCE AGENT IN YOUR AREA FOR A FREE QUOTE
If you are in need of auto insurance or are just looking to compare rates with other auto insurance companies in your state, use our Free Online Consultation Form and an insurance agent in your area will get back to you within 24 hours.
IF YOU'VE BEEN INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT - CONTACT AN ATTORNEY
If you are in need of legal advice or services, or simply wish to speak to an attorney who has successfully handled auto accident cases in your state, you may use our Free Online Consultation Form.
There is NO COST or obligation for this service. |